Why in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India's food diversity benefits investors worldwide as he inaugurated the second edition of "World Food India 2023" at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi recently.

What is World Food India 2023?

• World Food India 2023 provides a gateway of access to the Indian food market, promoting collaborations between domestic and foreign investors.
• It is organized by India's Ministry of Food Processing Industries in New Delhi from November 3rd to 5th.
• Objective: It aims to exhibit India's rich food culture and attract global investments in the food processing sector.
• The event brings together manufacturers, producers, investors, policymakers, and organizations from around the world involved in the food industry.
• Key Areas of Focus: The event is focused on leveraging millets as a superfood, positioning India as a global hub for food processing, unlocking growth potential in strategic segments, establishing an efficient ecosystem, and promoting sustainable development.
• India's Vision: This event aligns with India's vision to become a global leader in the food processing industry, highlighting the country's production, consumption, and export potential across various food sectors.
• India is taking steps to create an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem, attract foreign investment, and improve the ease of doing business in the food processing sector.
• Notably, the first edition of World Food India took place in 2017.
• India is a global leader in the production of various agricultural products, such as milk, bananas, mangoes, papayas, guavas, ginger, okra, and buffalo meat.
• It also ranks second in the production of rice, wheat, potatoes, garlic, and cashew nuts.
• Moreover, the United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) with the goal of increasing millet production and consumption worldwide.